Proof that one person’s cute idea is another’s living nightmare, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14) debuts. Jane Levy (“Suburgatory”) stars in the title role as a brilliant coder who feels unnoticed and unappreciated at a San Francisco startup company. Early on, her icy boss (Lauren Graham, cast against type) informs her that she’s competing for a big promotion, but gives her no encouragement. Zoey’s mother (Mary Steenburgen) is consumed caring for her dad (Peter Gallagher), who has entered into some kind of dementia. Life’s kind of glum for Zoey. But you have to admire the show’s cast.
Things change when Zoey has an MRI. While the technician cues up a playlist of soothing music, an earthquake rattles the facility and somehow downloads a century of pop tunes into Zoey’s noggin. Suddenly, she’s able to “hear” other people’s thoughts, the songs stuck in their heads that reveal their hopes and fears.
In other words, “Zoey” turns into a karaoke machine. Strangers on the street serenade her with the Beatles’ “Help,” a confident co-worker unburdens himself with Tears for Fears’ “Mad World,” and, spoiler alert, a certain someone performs the Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You” in Zoey’s proximity.
In this show’s lack of logic, the singers of these songs seem unaware of their performances. They appear only to Zoey. In other words, she’s suffering from visual and auditory hallucinations, always grist for great comedy.
Levy does an admirable job at the center of this three-ring circus. But she’s paid to be there. I’m not sure how many viewers will stick around once the singing starts. It reminds you why so many people wear headphones to protect themselves from other people’s noise.
— It’s official: Every show on CBS with an acronym title gets a sequel. “FBI” begets “FBI: Most Wanted” (10 p.m., TV-14), about agents chasing down the suspects at the top of the agency’s lists. The cast includes Julian McMahon, Kellan Lutz, Nathaniel Arcand, Roxy Sternberg and Keisha Castle-Hughes.
— The popular Canadian import “Schitt’s Creek” (9 p.m., Pop, TV-14) enters its sixth season. I always thought I could watch Catherine O’Hara in anything. Until this.
— ABC adjusts its schedule for the multi-night event “Jeopardy!: The Greatest of All Time” (8 p.m.), pitting the game’s most successful players (James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter) against each other.
This marks the first prime-time offering of the popular quiz show. NBC counters with two helpings of “Ellen’s Game of Games” (8 p.m. and 9 p.m., TV-PG). It’s beginning to look a lot like afternoon TV.
— “Frontline” (10:30 p.m., PBS, check local listings) examines how El Paso, Texas, has become ground zero for the immigration crisis. The influx of migrants, federal agents, pro-immigration proponents, militia members and other domestic terrorists has taxed the resources of the city.
TV-themed DVDs available today include: “Big Little Lies,” the complete second season.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— A frequent #MeToo target is slain on “FBI” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— A seafood restaurant in the Old Dominion needs help on the third season premiere of “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— The prime-time soap “The Haves and the Have Nots” (9 p.m., OWN) enters its seventh season.
— A new tip may lead to Piper on “Emergence” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
— Proof that every niche must be filled, “Hot & Heavy” (10 p.m., TLC, TV-14) debuts, following handsome men attracted to obese women.
— Snake hunters battle an invasive breed of pythons as “Guardians of the Glades” (10 p.m., Discovery, TV-14) enters its second season.
CULT CHOICE
— Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal star in the 1949 adaptation of Ayn Rand’s best-seller “The Fountainhead” (8 p.m., TCM, TV-PG). The author’s long-winded polemics translated poorly to the screen, leaving the actors with wads of unintentionally hilarious dialogue. A camp classic.
SERIES NOTES
One last detail for Ziva on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Conrad is at a loss on “The Resident” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … Clark bars the door on “Batwoman” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14).
A sudden tragedy rocks the family on “mixed-ish” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Jennifer faces peril on “Black Lightning” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) … A trip to the salon on “black-ish” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Ewan McGregor is booked on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) … Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale and Jamie Oliver are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Salma Hayek, George MacKay and Ask “This Old House” on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Demi Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jay Larson appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
